Holland: You’re Allowed To Warn Riders About Speed Traps |
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File under Travel
Author: Mike Werner
Location: Normandy, France
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In 2005 a France court ruled that riders (and drivers) are allowed to warn others that there's a Police speed trap ahead. The French court stated that it is your duty to prevent others from breaking the law, and warning other road users that they are about to break the law by speeding is allowed.
Now, in The Netherlands (aka Holland), a judge has come to the same conclusion. Pieter Klijn stood 50 meters from a Police speed trap near his home, and with his hands, warned others of the speed trap.
The Dutch Police was not too happy about this, but moved their trap to another street. The 20 year old mechanic followed them, and continued warning other vehicles about the radar.
So, you can guess the rest... the cops arrested him for hindering their work. However, a judge saw it differently. According to the judge, Pieter Klijn wasn't standing next to the radar, and hadn't disabled the device. At the end of the day, the Police should be using radar to prevent people from speeding, and that's exactly what Pieter did.
The Police did say that this is not a "carte blanch" to start warning others. The use of high beam to warn others is forbidden in The Netherlands (in sharp contrast with France, where everyone does it {link}).
So, if you're in Holland, and people are sticking out their hands out of the window, and gesturing, slow down... you're heading for a Police trap.
Via: MBI Member: Horizontaal
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